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A. W. VVHETON.

SELF CLOSING VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED ALIG.2, I9I9.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

.ABRAM W. WHEATO, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

SELF-CLOSING VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 2,. 1919. Serial No. 314,831l.

.To all whom t may concern.'

lBe it known that l, ABRAM W: VVHEATON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Closing `Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such vas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

'lhe present invention relates, generally,

`to improvements in faucets, particularly adapted for use upon oil and gasolene tank vehicles; and the invention relates, more particularly, to an improved self-closing faucet and detachable operating handle for manipulating the same. A

The invention has for its principal object to provide` a novel construction of selfclosing faucet adated to be manipulated by a detachable hand e, said faucet being further provided with a novelA means coperatingl with a portion of the valve stem of the faucet to hold the valve open to full or partial extent orcapacity, said means being also adapted, when properly manipulated, to engage the valve stem in such a manner when the valve is closed, as to prevent oper ation or opening of the same by the manipulating handle, an additional locking hasp and lock device being employed to retain said means in such valve locking position.

@ther objects of the present invention, not at thistime more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

l/Vith the various objects of the invention in view, the san'ieronsists, primarily, in the novel self-closing faucet hereinafter set forth; and the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more fully described'in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the. novel self-closing faucet, showing the detachable handle applied thereto, and further illustrating in dotted outline the valve in opened position, together with the retaining means for holding said valve in said openposition. i

Fig. 2 is a detail top end view of the novel faucet. y

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical longitudinal section of the upper end of the faucet, illustratin the retaining means positioned lto lock tie valve stem and its valve against manipulation.

VSimilar characters of reference are em ployed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the refela ence character l indicates the `faucet "body providing in its lower end the interior cham ber or passage 2. Extending from the rear side of 'said faucet body is an-internally screw-threaded extension 3 communicating with said chamber or passage 2, and adapted to receive the threaded end of the outlet Connected with the upper end of said faucet body l is an upwardly extending part 10 havmg a centrally disposed opening form ing a guideway 1l through which said valve stem 9 slidably extends. Said part 10 is connected at its upper end with a chambered extension 12 `providing an infernal chamber 13,'closed at its upper end by a cap-plate 14: suitably secured in place by fastening screws l5, or any other desirable fastening means. part 10, at the juncture thereof with said extension 12, is an annular depression forming a packing seat 16, in which is arranged a suitable packing 17, adapted to embrace said valve stem 9, and thereby prevent leak* ing of any fluid upward through said guideway 1l, A. perforate keeper plate 18, se-

Patented Nav. 1s, 1919. y

Formed in the upper end of said cured to the bottom of said extension 12, by screws 19, or othersuitable fastening means, serves to retain said packing 17 aga-inst removal from said packing seat 16.

Arranged about said valve stem 9, be-

.tween the upper wall of said faucet body 1 and said valve member 7, is a spiral conipression spring 20, the tension or pressure of which is exerted downwardly upon said valve member 7 to hold the same with its washer 8 in closed or seated relation to the valve seat portion 6.

Saidvalve stem 9 projects upwardly into the chamber 13 of said extension 12, and is provided adjacent to its upper end with a transverse slot or receiving opening 21. Extending upwardly from the upper extremity of said valve stem 9 is a reduced extension 22 thereof, which is slidably disposed for vertical movement in a guideway 23 .provided in said cap-plate 14. Formed in the front side of said extension 12 is an opening or gateway 247 providing access to the valve stem 9 for the detachable operating handle. or lever 25. The lower end of said opening or gateway 24 is formed to provide a knife-edge fulcrum member 26, which engages in pivot notch 27 provided in the body of said-handle or lever 25, when the latter 1s thrust through said opening or gateway for operative engagement with said valve stem 9. Pivoted to the exterior surface of said extension 12 is a closure member or shutter 28 which falls by gravity over said opening'or gateway 24, ,when the handle or lever 25 is withdrawn, to thereby close said opening or gateway 24 against the entrance of dirt, dust or other objectionable foreign substances into the valve stem inclosing chamber 13.

Fixed upon said cap-plate 14, preferably as an integral part thereof, are pair of perforate upstanding ears 29, alined with and positioned onel .on either\\side of the outwardly projecting end" df said reduced extension 22 of said valve stein 9. Pivoted to said ears 29, by means of its depending ,side lugsf30 is a transverse stopmember or retaining plate 31, the same being provided at its rear edge with a. chamfered catch-lip 32. integrally connected with the forward edge of said stop member or retaining plate 31 is an outwardly extending tongue or arm 33, secured to which, adjacent to its free end, is an off-set eye-member 34. Said reduced extension 22 of said valve stem 9 is provided, in its outwardly projected free end portion, and on the front side of the latter, with one or more notches .or indentations 35. A

That portion of said valve stem 9 which moves in the part 10 is provided, at one side, with an elongated-depression or groove 36. A stop-screw 37 is passed through the wall of" the part, so that its end enters said de` pression or groove 36. Said stop-screw prevents turning or axial rotation of the valve stem 9 tending to displace the receiving opening 21 of the latter, or the notches or indentations 35 of the reduced extension 22, from their respective operative locations relative to the opening or gateway 24 in the one case, or to the path of movement of the catch-lip 32 of the retaining plate 31 in the other case, while at the same. time the length of the depression or groove 36 provides adequately for the longitudinal movement of the valve stem 9 accompanying the operations of opening and closing the valve member 7.

To operate or open the faucet it is necessary to impart an upward movement to the valve stem 9 to lift the valve member 7 and its washer 8 from the valve seat portion 6, against the tension of the spring 20, thereby allowing the fluid entering the faucet to pass outward through the nozzle-portion 4. To so operate the parts the handle or lever 25 is inserted through the gateway 24, so that its inner end enters said receiving opening 21 of the valve stem 9, and so that its pivot notch 27 is ,\'fulcrumed upon the fulcruni member 26at the bottom of said gateway 24. Willen the handle or lever 25 is thus operatively related'to the faucet, a downwardly swinging movement is imparted to the outwardly projecting free end of the saine,

-which swings upwardly, the inner end there- .31 swings downward in front of the outymanipulation of the handle or lever 25, as

above described, the arm'33 is swung upwardly, causing said retaining plate 31 to swing upwardly upon its pivotal connection, so that the chamfered catch-lip 32 of the 125 same is carried into engagement with one or the other of the notches or indentations 35 of the reduced extension 22, as shown by the dotted representation of the parts in Fig. 1. The catch-lip 32 being engaged with one 130 .the discharge. of fluid therethrough.

of the notches or indentations 35 of said reduced extension 22, Serves to retain said extension and consequently the valve stem S) and. valve member 7, against downward movement under the impulsion of the spring 20. and consequently the faucet remains open. .lhe handle Yor lever 25 may be removed or withdrawn while the faucet is thus held open. lv'hen it is desired to close the faucet again, the. arm 33 is pressed or swung downward7 which in turn causes a downward swinging movement of said retaining plate 31 on its pivotal connection, so that the catch-lip 32 is swung outwardly and away from the engaged notch or indentation 35, whereupon the tension or compression of the spring 2() will impel said valve member 'i with its washer 8 downward to seated relation with the seat-portion 6 thereby again closing the faucet against The amount of opening or lift imparted to the valve member 7 and its washer 8 determines the amount of flow capacity through the faucet, consequently the plurality of notches or indentations 35 may be utilizedV by selection to hold the faucet opento the desired degree.

llf it is desired to arrange the faucet so that the same is entirely selfclosing, and.

rendered in'ipossible to be retained in open condition in the manner above described, the stop-screw El? is withdrawn from the elongated depression 3G, so that the valve-stem il may be given a half turn, and then again secured against axial rotation. The half' turn given to the valve-sem turns the, notched or indented face of me, reduced extension away from its operative forwardly facing position, in other words to the rear, in which changed position the notches or indentations 35 are no longer presented Vin position to receive the ,atclrlip 32 of the 'retaining plate Ell` and consequently the latter rendered inoperative to hold the faucet open in the manner above described, so that as soon as the valve opening pressure imparted through the agency of the handle or lever 25 is released, the spring 20 will immediately close the valve member 7, as will be understood.

lt is often desirable to lock the faucet against any manipulation byv the handle. or level' 25 or other means, particularly when putting` up for the night the tank vehicles upon which the faucets are used. To this end the novel retaining plate 31 is designed and arranged to coperate with a locking means in the following nianncr. and by the following means.

When the valve-member T and its washer 8 is seated upon the valve seat-portion and the valve stem 9 with its reduced extension Q2 moved to its downward limit, said retaiir ing plate 31 is capable of being swung over the upper extremity of said reduced extension 22, so as toobstruct any upward movement thereof, and consequently prevent any rising or opening movement of the valve stem and valve member. In order Lo hold the retainingplate 31 in such obstructing position, there is provided a swinging hasp-plate 38, which is pivoted to a perforated ear 39, the latter having ascrew threaded shank 40, whereby the same isscrewed into fixed relation to said cap-plate 14 and said extension 12. The free end of said hasp-plate 38 is provided with a hasp-slot al. When the retaining plate 3l has been positioned in obstructin relation to the reduced extension 9.2, saidgliasp-plate 38 is swung upwardly so that its hasp-slot 41 is caused to pass over said offset eye-member 34 of the arm of said retaining )late 31. A pad-lock 42, or other suitable locking device is thereupon secured through the eye-member 34 so as to prevent separation of said hasp-plate and said arm 33, thereby locking and holding said retaining plate in obstructing position relative to said reduced extension 22. all as `indicated more clearly in Fig. 3 of the ac con'ipanying drawings.

The reference character t3 indicates a. horn or spur projecting from the front side of the valve body l, and serving to support the bail of a can or other receptacle in suspended position beneath the nozzle-portion t while being filled.

I ani aware that some changes may be made in the several arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as inthe details of construction ot' the same, without departing from the sco )e of the present invention as set forth in tl foregoing` specification, and aswletme'd iu the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit mv invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts described .in the foregoing specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

l. The coi'iibination with a faucet body of a self-closing valve having an upwardly extending stem, the upper free end of said stem projecting exteriorly of said faucet body, the exteriorlvv projecting cud of said stem having an indented notch in one side thereof, a retaining plate, means for pivoting' said retaining plate in connection with said faucet body so that the same may be swung over the exteriorly projecting end of said stem when the 'alve is closed, an arm projecting outwardly from said retaining plate having-an olf-set eye-member. a haspplate pivotally connected with said faucet bod)1 to swing into embracing relation to said eye-member when said retaining plate is moved to valve stem obstructing position',

said eye-member being adapted to receive a lockingmeans whereby said liasp-plate and said retaining plate arm are secured together, said retaining plate being further provided in its rearward edge with a chainfered catch-lip adapted to 'be engaged in said indented notch of said stein when the latter is raised to hold. said valve in opened position, and means for raisin j said stein.

2. The combination wit i a faucet body of a self-closing valve having an upwardly extending stein, the upper free end of said stem projecting exteriorly of said faucet body, a retaining plate, means for pivoting said retaining plate in connection with said faucet body so that same may be swung over the exteriorly projecting end of said stein when the valve is closed, an arm projecting outwardly from said retaining plate having an off-set eye-ineinber, a hasp-plate pivotally connected with said faucet body to swing into embracing relation to said eyemember when said retaining plate is moved to valve stem obstructing position, said eyemember being adapted to receive a locking means whereby said hasp-plate and said retaining plate arm are secured together.

3. The combination with a faucet body of a self-closing valve having an upwardly exteriorly 'extending stein, the upper free end of said stem having a notch `in one side thereof, a retaining plate pivoted to said faucet body, said retaining plate having at its rearward edge a chamfered catch-lip engageable in said notch when said stem is raised to valve opening position, said retaining plate being engageable against the free end of said stem( when the latter is lowered to valve closing position, and means for locking said retaining plate in the latter position.

4. The combination with a faucet body of a self-closing valve having an upwardly extending stem, said faucet body having a chambered extension at its upper end, a packing seating portion intermediate said chambered extension and said faucet body through which said stem extends to the interior of said chambered extension, a capplate for closing the upper end of said chambered extension, said stemliaving a transverse receiving slot adjacent to its upper end, said chambered extension having an opening in its side wall opposite said receiving slot of Said stem, a detachable lever for insertion through said opening into operative relation to said receiving slot of said stem, means for preventing axial rotation of said stem, said stein having an upwardly extending portion projecting exteriorly through said cap-plate, said upwardly extending portion having an indented notch in one side thereof, a retaining plate, means for pivoting said retaining plate upon said capplate so that the same may be swung over --the extremity of said upwardlyextending stem portion to obstruct the opening movement of said valve and its stein, an arni projecting outwardly from said retaining plate having an off-set eye-member, a hasp-plate pivotally connected with said cap-plate to swing into embracing relation to said eyemeniber when said retaining plate is moved to valve stem obstructing position, said eyelnember being adapted to receive a locking means whereby said hasp-plate and retaining plate arm are secured together, and said retaining plate being further provided in its rearward edge with a chainfered catch-lip adapted to be engaged with said indented notch of said upwardly extending stein portion when the latter is raised to hold said valve in opened position.

5. The combination with a faucet body of a self-closing valve having an upwardly extending stem, said faucet body having a chambered extension at its upper end, a packing seating portion intermediate said chambered extension and said faucet body through which said stem extends to the interior of said chambered extension, a capplate for closing the upper end of said chambered extension, said stem having a transverse receiving slot adjacent to its upper end, said chambered extension having an opening in its side wall opposite said receiving slot of said stem, a detachable lever for insertion through said openinginto op.- erative relation to said receiving slot of said stem, means for preventing axial rotation of said stem, said stem having an upwardly extending portion projecting exteriorly through said cap-plate, a retaining plate, means for pivoting said retaining plate upon said Acap-plate so that the saine may be swung over the extremity of said upwardly extending stein portion to obstruct the opening movement of said valve and its stem, an arm projecting outwardly from said retaining plate having an off-set eye-member, and a hasp-plate pivotally connected with said cap-plate to swing into embracing relation to said eye-member when said retaining plate is moved to valve stem obstructing position, said eye-member being adapted to receive a locking means whereby said hasp-plate and retaining plate arm are secured together.

6, The combination with a faucet body of a self-closing valve having an upwardly eX- tending stem, said faucet body having a chambered extension at its upper end, a packing seating portion intermediate said chambered extension and said faucet body through which said stem extends to the iiiterior of said chambered extension, a capplate for closing the upper end of said chainbered extension, said stein having a transverse receiving slot adjacent to its upper end, said chambered extension having an opening in its side wall opposite said receiv- Lezama ing slot of said stem, a detachable lever for insertion through said opening into opera-` tive relation to said receiving slot of said stein, means for preventing axial rotation of saidstem, said stern having an upwardly` extending portion projecting exterior-ly through said cap-plate, said upwardly eX- tending portion having an indented notch in lone side thereof, a retaining-p1ate, means for pivoting said retaining plate upon said cap-plate, and said retaining plate having at its rearward edge a ohamfered catch-lip adapted to be engaged with said indented vnotch of said upwardly extending stern-pon tion when .the latter is raised to hold said 15 valve in opened Y position.

*this 24th day of July, 1919. Y

ABRAM W. WHEATON.

Witnesses FREDK C. FRAENTZEL, HEIEN FELDKAMP. 

